lab fluids & IV catheters

Question 1

The most commonly used peripheral vein for intravenous catheterisation in cats and dogs is?

Answer 1

the cephalic vein

Question 2

Which one of the following needle sizes would be most appropriate to draw a 2mL blood sample from the cephalic vein of a medium dog - 30, 25, 22, 18, 14?

Answer 2

22 gauge

Question 3

An IVC in a dog’s cephalic vein should be secured in place by….

Answer 3

taping

Question 4

When placing a canine IVC, explain why you should advance the stylet 1-2mm further after you first get a flash of blood in the chamber?

Answer 4

this ensures the entire bevel and tip of catheter are located within the lumen of the vein - if you try and advance the catheter off the stylet when you first get a flash of blood, it’s possible that only the tip of the bevel is within the vein, and sliding the catheter off may push the vein off the stylet

Question 5

A large volume of blood (10 mL) is needed for some lab testing in a small dog. Which of the following veins is the most appropriate location to obtain this sample - lateral saphenous, medial saphenous, cephalic, external jugular?

Answer 5

external jugular vein

Question 6

Fluids can be administered by different routes including… (hint, 5)

Answer 6

Intravenous
Subcutaneous
Oral
Intraosseous (into the bone - Collapsed patients/neonates without easy IV access)
Rectal (rare)

Question 7

set has a specific size “drip”/”drop” associated with it and this is dependant on the size of the piece of tubing in the chamber. The most common drip set is 20 drops/mL in companion animal medicine but they can also come in 10, 15 and 60 drips or drops/mL… how does the drip per ml number relate to volume of each drip?

Answer 7

The larger the number of drips per mL the smaller the volume each drip is so the smaller the piece of tubing in the chamber.

Question 8

Due to the complications associated with administering air directly into the patient circulation, it is CRUCIAL that any tubing (giving sets, extensions set, patient connection ports) are……

Answer 8

primed - filled with sterile fluid. injecting air bubbles = very bad

Question 9

If you try to prime the line WITHOUT filling the drip chamber (squeezing it), what will happen?

Answer 9

fluid might not flow through into the line

Question 10

What is the main concern IF the drip chamber is overfilled?

Answer 10

can’t accurately measure drip times

Question 11

The consequence of NOT priming the fluids line before connection to the patient is?

Answer 11

a large volume of air can enter the vein causing an air embolism and possible death

Question 12

The larger the number of drips per mL the smaller the volume each drip is so the smaller the piece of tubing in the chamber - true or false?

Answer 12

true

Question 13

what does rate mean on a fluid pump?

Answer 13

the fluid administration rate in ml/hour

Question 14

what does VTBI mean on a fluid pump?

Answer 14

Volume To Be Infused - this number should be set to the volume of fluid in mLs that you want to administer (eg whole 1L bag means VTBI set to = 1000mL)

Question 15

what does VI mean on a fluid pump?

Answer 15

Volume Infused - this tells you what volume of fluid has been administered to your patient (after the last time the pump settings were cleared)

Question 16

what does time mean on a fluid pump?

Answer 16

the time (in hours) that you wish to administer the fluids over

Question 17

what does select to on a fluid pump?

Answer 17

Use this button to choose which item (VI, Time etc) you are changing. The selected item will light up green.

Question 18

what does run/hold do on a fluid pump?

Answer 18

Once the pump is set and ready, press this button to start the fluids running. You can also pause the pump by pressing this button (hold). it only pauses for a short time.